March 2011 marks 30 years since the murder of Bobby McBride and the crime has remained an unsolved cold case for the Brownwood Police.  Recently, the Brownwood Police have been reviewing the case in hopes to find new leads.

Bobby Hardy McBride was born in May, Texas on October 3, 1939.  He lived most of his life in central Texas. McBride joined the US Army around 1960 and served his country.  He was a graduate of Howard Payne University and enjoyed operating and owning a private club in Brownwood.

On March 15, 1981, the Brownwood resident, 41-year-old Bobby McBride, was shot to death in a downtown night club that he owned and operated.  McBride was found dead in his office at the club, the Branch Office, located at 211 Center Avenue by employee Frank Colloza.

Brownwood Police report that the crime has never been solved; however, investigators do know that McBride left his mother’s home in May, Texas along with his 2-year-old daughter on Sunday, March 15th, 1981 at approximately 12:15pm to meet his wife Becky McBride in Brownwood.  After the meeting, Bobby McBride remained at the club, and was found deceased at 1:45pm Monday, March 16th, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head according to police.  There was no murder weapon found at the scene but evidence suggests that a .38 caliber revolver may have been the weapon involved in the murder.

The club changed ownership and was later torn down.

At the time of the murder, Steve Ellis was the District Attorney, Vic Fowler was Chief of Police, Joe Robbins was the Assistant Chief and the Officer on the case was Sgt. Felix Salazar.  Justice of the Peace Bob Morgan and Texas Ranger Norman Autry were also involved in the case.

Brownwood Police along with the Texas Rangers have interviewed dozens of people and many of them  have been re-interviewed, but at this time the case remains unsolved.  Since then, Sgt. Troy Carroll has also investigated the case and currently the CID officer assigned to the case is Sgt. James Kidd, a 9 year veteran officer at BPD.  Kidd was also a Gang Intelligence Criminal Investigator in Midland prior to joining BPD.

Many unconfirmed theories and motives have been presented to BPD, along with suspects or “persons of interest” over the years, none of which could be proven.  Although no viable new leads or information has surfaced in years, BPD continues to periodically review and work on this case.  A $25,000 reward is currently being offered according to police.  Anyone with information should contact the Brownwood Police Department at 325-646-2525 or 325-646-0402.

“The Brownwood Police Department continues to investigate and look into every incident that comes to us.  This case is no different,” said Assistant Chief of Police James Fuller.  “As a community, we owe it to the families involved to find closure in this matter and as a law enforcement agency; we will continue to go toward that goal.”

Sgt. Kidd, at a recent media briefing held at the Brownwood Police Department, explained that “cold case” is often a misunderstood term.

“A cold case is an investigation that has not been solved after exploring every lead and examining all evidence available.  As a result, the case is considered inactive until new information is developed,” stated Sgt. Kidd.  “This type of case presents many challenges for the law enforcement agency including funding, time and resources.  Other obstacles include deterioration of evidence, relocation of persons/original officers involved, and cooperation from witnesses.  But all these obstacles can be fought with dedicated investigators, new technology and focused police work.”

Sgt. Kidd gave reasons that this and similar cases should be reexamined:

• Advances in forensic analysis of evidence, such as DNA, may yield new clues or establish new links to suspects that were not possible in the past.
• Over time, alliances between suspects and witnesses may have diminished, removing the reluctance of those with knowledge of the crime to cooperate with investigators.
• The killers themselves may have lowered their guard over time, leading them to confide information to others or come out of hiding.

“We realize that justice is owed not only to the deceased victim, but to the family and friends left behind; those living victims who require closure of a case to begin the healing process,” said Sgt. Kidd.  “The safety of the community and the sanctity of human life also require that justice be served.”

Family members have gone on with their lives, still hoping to find answers according to Bobby McBrides’ sister, Linda Wilson.

“30 years is a long time ago.  We’d like for it to be solved,” stated Wilson.

Wilson explained that the murder of her brother was hard on all the family members and that one of the worst things was watching the pain it caused her parents who were in their 60s at the time.  Despite their pain, they were very strong for the rest of the family.

“They handled it with grace and lived the rest of their lives wanting to know.  They lived their lives out loving the rest of the family,” stated Wilson.

The family hopes that new DNA advances and the case being reviewed will bring answers said Wilson.

This case has been presented to the Sheriff’s Association of the Texas Cold Case Review Team which has also provided assistance investigation the case, along with the Texas Rangers.

Pictured above is Bobby McBride.

Other cases that are being reviewed are:

*The April 1981 murder of Donna Mae Inlow, a 73 year-old woman that was stabbed to death in her family owned business (Inlow’s Shoe Store) which was also located in downtown Brownwood.

*The May 1989 abduction and murder of Amanda Goodman, a 13-year-old who was shot to death and her body placed and discovered on rural Indian Creek Road, which is nine miles south of Brownwood.